New Prestige Class: Artificer
Author: Randall Newnham  newnham@qwest.net

An artificer is a spellcaster who specializes in creating magical items. Through research, artificers learn how to become more adept at magic item creation.

Prerequisites: Craft Wondrous Object, 1 other item creation feat, Knowledge: Arcana (4), Craft(any) -or- Alchemy(4), Spellcraft (4)
Spellcaster 5th

Hit die: d4

Class skills: Alchemy, Appraise, Concentration, Craft, Knowledge, Profession, Scry, Spellcraft

Skill points: 2 + INT 

Level  Base Attack     Fort   Ref   Will       Special                                 Spells
1                +0                 +0    +0     +1         Master Craftsman (+1),  +1 caster level
                                                                         +1 to saves vs. magic item effects
2                +0                +0    +0     +2         Artisan’s Touch (-10%)   +1 caster level
3                +1                +1     +1      +2         Master Craftsman (+2),  +1 caster level
                                                                         +2 saves, Attunement
4                +1                +1     +1      +3         Artisan’s Touch (-20%),  +1 caster level
                                                                         Bonus Item Creation Feat
5                +2               +1     +1      +3         Master Craftsman (+3),    +1 caster level
                                                                        +3 saves, Trigger Sense
6               +2               +2     +2      +4        Artisan’s Touch (-30%) ,    +1 caster level
                                                                       Dysfunction (1/day)
7               +3               +2     +2      +4         Master Craftsman (+4),     +1 caster level
                                                                        +4 saves
8               +3               +2      +2     +5        Artisan’s Touch (-40%),     +1 caster level
                                                                       Dysfunction (2/day), Bonus Creation Feat       
9               +4              +3       +3     +5       Master Craftsman (+5),       +1 caster level  
                                                                       Mordenkainen’s Dysjunction (1/day),
                                                                       +5 saves
10             +4              +3        +3    +6       Artisan’s Touch (-50%),      +1 caster level
                                                                      Create Artifact

Special Abilities:

Master Craftsman (Ex): The Artificer gets the bonus listed added to his effective level for determining which items he can or cannot make, including for determing max plusses to an item. He still must be able to cast any prerequisite spells, etc.

Artisan’s Touch (Ex): The Artificer gets the listed reduction to the amount of XP and gold required to produce a magical item, a reflection of the specialized knowledge they have acquired in magical artifacts. This does not affect the price of spell components. 

Attunement (Su): By handling an object, an Artificer can make a Spellcraft
check (DC 18) to tell whether or not it is magical. This is due to being in
tune with magical fields of items. Another Spellcraft check (DC 22) can tell
the primary school of enchantment.

Bonus Item Creation Feat: Must be chosen from item creation list, plus Construct Familiar (Dragon #280). Artificer must be of sufficient level to take it. Note: Master Craftsman ability does not allow Artificer to take a feat before his spellcaster level would allow him. 

Trigger Sense (Su): The Artificer is so in tune with the energy fields of magical artifacts, that, whenever one is activated within 10 feet/Artificer level, the Artificer is allowed a Spellcraft check (DC 18) to notice. On a succesful check, the Artificer knows the general direction the activation occurred in (though, of course, the activation may be obvious). Thus, an Artificer is rarely surprised by an ambush made with magic stuffs. This only applies to magic items that are activated. 

Dysfunction (Su): Once (or more) per day, an Artificer can prevent a magic item from functioning. By concentrating for a round, the Artificer can make an opposed level check vs. the creator’s level to stop it from functioning for a number of rounds equal to his Artificer level. The check is automatically successful vs. his own creations. 

Mordenkainen’s Disjunction (Su): as per the spell.

Create Artifact (Su): An Artificer of 10th level can create a minor artifact. Such an undertaking should take no less than one year. In addition, the DM should assign some sort of quest to acquire costly spell components, etc. Examples of minor artifacts appear in the DMG. An Artificer ideally should not be able to create more than one or two artifacts in a lifetime, and not without great costs to himself.